Houston Astros: Dallas Keuchel scratched; Dayan Diaz fizzles

The Houston Astros were back at it tonight suffering from the lingering effects of the hangover of a spectacular streak being snapped.

We all wondered if the Houston Astros were ever going to lose a game again when the streak started to reach levels that had never been seen before.  We were all proud of how they had been performing as of late but it would be naive to think that they’d be able to keep up such a torrid pace.  Especially with the injuries that have plagued our starting pitchers.

But nonetheless, the Houston Astros tore through it, being able to take down opponent after opponent without breaking much of a sweat.  But as I expected, things were going to change with the Kansas City Royals, an extremely-talented team that just had been struggling to hit the ball as of late.  It’s like the Royals had morphed into the 2016 Astros if I say so myself.

But things changed as with the injuries to Charlie Morton and Joe Musgrove certainly tested the wits of our bullpen.  They persevered when the heat was on but eventually fatigue was going to catch up with them.  It certainly showed last night as Ken Giles just didn’t quite have the right stuff to get out of a jam that Reymin Guduan unintentionally — but somehow ended up in — created.  But that was last night and it was time to turn the page.

But right at time for first pitch we found out that Dallas Keuchel was ill and trying to make his start tonight.  Based on the tapes I saw, he didn’t look like himself as his eyes looked droopy as if it was effort for him just stand on his own two feet straight.  Likely knowing this well in advance, the Astros sent back down Guduan to call up Dayan Diaz from the minors.

Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports:

Diaz had been posting a 1.03 ERA, tossing 23 strikeouts and a 1.03 WHIP through 23.1 innings pitched for Triple-A Fresno.  But it’s different when one steps on the mound in the majors as you’re going up against the best and that assertion can be made about the Royals.  You can’t fault Diaz’s effort but it just became too much for the young hombre to keep up with the heavy-hitters.  Cheslor Cuthbert, Alcides Escobar and Lorenzo Cain all had their way with him, putting the Royals up 3-1 by the bottom of the 3rd and taking his fastball to task.

Diaz finished with three strikeouts, three earned runs, four hits and one homer given up through 2.2 IP.  He did the absolute best he could but to ask him to crush in such a high-pressure situation would be unreasonable.

Anyway, Tony Sipp was eventually called up but things got even worse as the Royals took a 5-2 lead after Escobar and Ramon Torres doing their damage as well.  Brian McCann had singled at the top of the 4th to bring in Carlos Beltran.

Sipp got the quick hook after one inning to have Luke Gregerson and Ken Giles smooth things out.  Hopefully we see more of Diaz but we’re trying to patch things up the best we can with the guys we have rather than make a deal for another arm at the moment.

Next: Three reasons why Derek Fisher is the perfect trade piece

With all of the uncertainty about our pitching rotation — Morton is BARELY at the point of throwing after two weeks and Musgrove to possibly start this weekend, what gives?

I think we’ll be fine but this is going to be where A.J. Hinch earns his keep as the skipper.  We’ll have to see.

By the way, we fell to the Royals 7-5 after a valiant rally down the stretch.

Go Astros.